"A few weeks ago, the city broke ground on the construction of the Atlanta Streetcar," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. "The approval of the design-build contract for the Atlanta Streetcar is another important step forward for this vital project and underscores the city's commitment to build a new, world-class transit system that will benefit residents and visitors for years to come."

"MARTA is extremely excited to move forward on this very innovative public-private partnership with our longstanding local and federal partners," said MARTA General Manager/CEO Dr. Beverly Scott. "This visionary city initiative is the first significant transit expansion project in our region in over a decade. It marks a real milestone."

Operated by MARTA under contract to the city of Atlanta, the streetcar line will include 12 stops with access to major attractions like the World of Coca-Cola, CNN Center, the Georgia Aquarium, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and the historic Auburn Avenue corridor, the birthplace of the Civil Rights movement. The line, which reconnects the two halves of downtown that were disconnected by freeway construction, will also directly connect with MARTA's rail and bus systems with eventual connectivity to the Atlanta BeltLine. The Board of Directors also approved the award of a contract to Apollo Video Technology to install security cameras on the entire MARTA revenue fleet, including all bus, mobility and rail vehicles.

The Vehicle Security Camera System is designed to enhance safety and security for customers and employees throughout the transit system. These cameras will assist in deterring criminal activity and will serve as an invaluable investigative tool for the MARTA Police Department. The new cameras will be strategically placed throughout vehicles and the equipment will be standardized across all fleets. These capabilities will assist MARTA Police and authorities with identifying perpetrators and investigating incidents.

All revenue vehicles are expected to be outfitted by 2014. The $17 million camera installation project is being funded through MARTA's capital budget.